Gapers Block published from April 22, 2003 to Jan. 1, 2016. The site will remain up in archive form. Please visit Third Coast Review, a new site by several GB alumni.
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Monday, November 24
December 1 is World AIDS Day. Free HIV testing at several locations in the city, the Fourth Annual Long-Term Survivor Awards, a candlelight vigil in Boys Town, and 6,000 Steps for 6,000 Orphans, a walk to commemorate the children who are orphaned daily due to AIDS are among the events going on in the city.
The arrival of Steppenwolf playwright Tracy Letts' August: Osage County at the National Theater in London has made the British realize their common bonds with Chicago's theater scene, notably the "quality of the right to fail." Hmph.
Thousands of taxi drivers reportedly stayed home from work today to show support for the United Taxidrivers Community Council's proposal for a 16% fare hike to take effect January 1.
Hopefully you remembered not to park on snow routes tonight, because whether there's snow on the ground or not, Chicago's winter parking regulations go into effect at 3am Dec. 1 -- very late tonight or very early Monday morning, depending on your perspective. Hope you don't wake up to a missing car!
A couple of months ago, we wrote that Kimberly Walz, chief of staff to Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, was looking for votes in the Benefit makeup Posie Gal contest. The results are in, and Walz came away with the victory.
The U of I is generating controversy with the Irwin Center, a $6 million athletes-only tutoring center.
The Trib has story on Chicago connections to the recent tragedy in Mumbai. Update: At least one Chicagoan was killed in the attacks.
Make sure you return that copy of Twilight you borrowed on time: the Chicago Public Library is doubling its late fee to 20 cents per book per day.
Christkindlmarket is officially open down in Daley Plaza.
NARAL has launched a website featuring local spoken word talent promoting reproductive rights. It was produced by See3 Communications, a local web/video firm working with non-profits.
Brian Urlacher's son's mother says the football star paints his son's toenails blue and dresses him in pink diapers. Apparently, she sees this as cause for keeping the boy away from his father.
"I've got some cayenne pepper and a leaf blower. What could go wrong?"
$15 buys a toy for a refugee child. $25 buys public transportation for a job interview. $50 pays a struggling family's electric bill for a month. It's all in the new gift catalog from Heartland Alliance, the Chicagoland nonprofit that helps poor people and refugees improve their lives.
It's Demon Dogs all over again: developers are planning on buying up the Showman's League of America Building at 300 W. Randolph for office building development. That building, as you may or may not know, houses Harry's Hot Dogs, which has been around for over 50 years yet (according to the Yelp reviews) still features the original Harry! Better get your hot dogs now before Harry's closes up...
The Parkways Foundation wants to know if you'll grant Buckingham Fountain a wish.
Mandy Burrell Booth gives us the skinny on decadent turkey cooking in this week's Drive-Thru Feature.
If you TIVOd the newest (season finale) episode of "Entourage" this past Sunday, pay attention to scene change footage between minutes eleven and twelve...what is supposed to be a quick shot of gritty New York is actually a pre-construction view of the CTA station at Belmont and Wilton. Good work, film editor.
Lorraine Hansberry's ground-breaking play A Raisin in the Sun is our January selection for the Book Club. You can read the introduction now, then join us on January 12 at the Book Cellar to discuss it in person. New members are always welcome.
Friends of the Park is still getting resistance from those who don't want the lakefront park network expanded. Here are the current plans.
Frank Lloyd Wright's masterful Unity Temple is in peril after heavy rains brought down a portion of the ceiling. Help out if you can.
You probably aren't familiar with the saga of the Giant Italian Truffle, which has failed to find a home here in the States... until it reached Chicago, that is.
A friend and fellow Cubs fan joked to me the other day he was re-thinking his vote because he's tired of seeing Obama in Sox gear on the national news. Yesterday, the President-Elect's press team miffed at least one reporter by nonchalantly invoking the rivalry.
Callpod is a local company producing some very cutting edge gadgets, including multi-device chargers and extra-strength bluetooth headsets.
Slumbering in the U of C's Regenstein Library were nine volumes of The Chicagoan. The U of C Press wants you to know how grand it was. The covers, illustrations and images are particularly worth revisiting.
Believe it or not, you can get gas in Chicago for less than $2 a gallon. Not in a nearby suburb, not across the Skyway in Indiana, but actually within the city limits, specifically at a BP and Mobil station at 76th Street near the Dan Ryan Expressway.
On Dec. 1 at 7:30pm, WTTW debuts a new documentary on Chicago's lakefront.
Yes, it really is that time of year again. If you're decorating for the season, you might consider one of these Christmas tree alternatives, or maybe a live potted tree. (Jewish college students might also want to try designing a green menorah.)
So what were you doing when you heard the news? The Chicago Reporter wants to know your reaction when you first heard that Barack Obama had won the election as part of their upcoming "50 Days/50 Voices" project. Video, audio and essays are all welcome.
The ever-vigilant architecture critic Lee Bay looks at the rise and fall of the controversial Robert Taylor Homes on his blog. He even includes a link to video clip of Mayor Daley the Elder speaking at the grand opening.
Speaking of lunch in the Loop, the Tribune has a foodporn gallery of some of their favorites.
Shrine of Our Lady of Pompeii has received a relic from the body of Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini Green, partial namesake of Cabrini-Green and the first canonized US resident.
This week, diners at The Café at The Ritz-Carlton Chicago will be treated to "Thanksgiving Dinner in One Bite", an amuse-bouche that combines all the tastes of a traditional Thanksgiving meal into a single forkful.
The Reader has a mouth watering piece on Cafecito, a new Cuban sandwich spot in the South Loop. I haven't tried it but it sounds like the owner definitely did his homework, even researching my neighborhood's favorite whole in the wall, El Cubanito.
For one man, that passion is White Sox baseball cards.
Election night wasn't only a bad night for Republicans; some Austin residents are suing over police actions.
Vote now for your favorite design for next year's Chicago vehicle sticker. It's theme is "Dog Friendly Chicago" and all the stickers were created by Chicago Public School students.
File under "Nom Nom Nom": Top Chef cupcakes are back at the Bleeding Heart Bakery.
The former Ludlum School in Long Island is now the Barack Obama Elementary School.
Whether they're called HOT (High-Occupancy Toll) or Green Lanes, four (to be determined) Illinois toll roads are going to be changing in 2010. Aimed at reducing congestion, commuters will be rewarded for driving with a buddy (or 2, or 3), or taking the bus, with access to a designated lane for vehicles with more than one passenger.
Know a University of Chicago student or alumnus? Know two or more? Print out these U of C-centric Bingo cards for them to enjoy during the holidays. Then stand back and watch the geek-tacular fun ensue.
HispanicBusiness.com take a look at the Puerto Rican community in Chicago and its staunch supporters who once again try to stave off gentrification.
Congratulations to Wilmette native and new father Pete Wentz -- wife Ashlee Simpson-Wentz gave birth to their son, Bronx Mowgli Wentz, last night. Celebrate by checking out the Simpson-Wentz Baby Name Generator.
I guess that jobs post was more urgent than I realized.
"The city stands there, in all its legendary green-rivered, fire-prone glory, and that once every 100 years, when it rises out of Lake Michigan, you can visit it." Decider discusses Chicago mythology with John Hodgman, author of the book The Areas of My Expertise.
Kaitlin Olson introduces us to the venerable Hot Dish in this week's Drive-Thru feature.
Getting on the Obama bus to Washington might be tough -- more than 200,000 resumes have been submitted on Change.gov so far. You might have better luck on the state level.
We've got a roundup of our favorite rock dive bars over in Transmission as a part of our latest set of Chicago venue reviews.
"Check Please!" host Alpana Singh has a blog.
The Chicago History Museum has an exhibit of "Couture Treasures" running right now. If you don't have time to hit the museum, check on this flickr slideshow of the highlights.
The New York Times on Chicago's "moment of renaissance": "Well before Mr. Obama was elected as the nation's 44th president... Chicago was experiencing one of its most blossoming periods in food, fashion and the arts. Now, people around the country and the world are simply noticing." Um, yeah, thanks for noticing. Again.
On Thanksgiving -- and throughout next weekend -- Chicago Public Radio will be airing a lot of "best of" programs, including the winners from this year's Third Coast International Audio Festival.
Yesterday, IIT announced it will build the first smart microgrid electricity system in the United States. The system promises to "virtually eliminate" power outages and allow the university to sell excess electricity, all the while saving at least $2 million a year.
Image Chicago magazine, a "lifestyle" publication with a heavy emphasis on clubbing and fashion, celebrates its third anniversary. You can flip through the latest issue, a dual "hers and his" type of thing, here.
A 22-year veteran Chicago cop could lose his job over a $1 bag of trail mix.
Commenters at the CTA Tattler are discussing which CTA bus route would get the "Bunchie" for slowest and least reliable service.
McKey Sullivan of Lake Forest is the winner of "America's Next Top Model". Check out her Top Model portfolio here.
Local artist and programmer Dubi Kaufmann created a plugin for Apple's Photo Booth called "Obamafy." The plugin is based on Shepard Fairey's amazingly popular Obama poster.
Looks like the trusty Chicago Card may become obsolete in the near future. The CTA is claiming that a new "smart" version of credit and debit cards will be accepted for payment of bus and train fares in about a year. Seems like a rather bold prediction, but it could mean more money for other improvements if it pans out.
With the economy in such a sorry state these days, retailers are trying everything they can to get people shopping again. Frank Mancari, owner of Mancari's Chrysler-Jeep in Oak Lawn is no different. On Monday, he began selling slightly-used PT Cruisers for $1 to customers who bought an SUV-style Chrysler Pacifica at his dealership.
Who knew that employees at Chicago-based Potbelly Sandwich Works were so into DIY and being green?
The Atlantic's Ta-Nehisi Coates ruminates on Eric Holder and on President-elect Barack Obama: "I know Obama is a product of many things. He is first, and foremost, the product of the home his parents and grandparents made for him. But he's also the product of the South Side of Chicago, the historic economic and political power center of black America."
The Chicago Reporter reports that the African-American HIV/AIDS Response Fund, created just two years ago, could be on the chopping block along with several other important health initiatives due to the state's budget shortfalls.
Wicker Park's Sweet Thang lost its lease and moved to Roscoe Village earlier this year. Now it's closed again -- embroiled in the same strange scandal that swirled around the closing of Sweet Occasions. Read more in Drive-Thru.
GB Transmission contributer Jason Behrends lends us his talents over at the Book Club page for an interview with Neal Pollack. Come learn more about how fatherhood has influenced Pollack's writings and how we compare to readers in L.A.
Explore the world of video art with the Video Data Bank.
Scientists at Argonne National Laboratory have developed a "life-saving, Slurpee-like slurry" which "rapidly cools the body from the inside out, giving doctors more time to treat patients while staving off harmful complications, saving lives." [via]
Speaking of random imagery of the city, Google is now hosting images from LIFE magazine, including a trove of photos of, in and around Chicago.
The official Chicago Office of Tourism's youtube channel has a decent collection of Chicago videos in its favorite section. I'm watching "The Foods of Chicago" right now.
NPR's "Fresh Air" today will feature an interview with former Weatherman, current professor William Ayers about the election and his relationship with Obama. Tune in on WBEZ at 11am or 10pm, or catch the podcast later.
If the end of your work day includes a stop at the mailbox, chances are you'll have to change your work routine: the postal service has cut 5 PM pickup times in Loop office buildings, thanks to economic troubles and security concerns.
Chicago based "Rock Thrash Garage Glam" band The Last Vegas won the Make Rock History prize and will open for Mötley Crüe during their next tour, among other goodies.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has become the Active Transportation Alliance, to reflect a broadening of its focus beyond bikes.
Crime novelist and lawyer Laura Caldwell was mugged while jogging in Lincoln Park last week. Her latest novel, coming out soon, just happens to feature a nearly identical scene, set in Old Town.
Since Vocalo launched, it's been available online, but its broadcast listening area has been pretty limited. Today is the one week anniversary of the launch of its 593 foot broadcast tower, Valmont #60, and its broadcasting throughout the Chicago area and beyond.
Interested in a completely vegan winter coat that's still the height of fashion? Vaute Couture is the place to start; learn more on their blog.
"Other commuters, who probably did not even witness the arm-whapping, must have noticed me rejecting the seat, done some quick urban calculus, and come up with the answer of Maybe That Lady Knows Something We Don't."
If you're like me and somehow missed this tidbit of trivia, you may be surprised to learn that Brian Wilson, who played a show at the Chicago Theater Sunday, has a local connection.
In Transmission, we're previewing the inaugural CBGB (Chicago Blue(G)rass and Blues) Festival, happening this coming Saturday at the Congress Theater. We're also giving away tickets. Happy Monday!
Harris opened its first environmentally-friendly bank in Chicago, apparently in penance for opening branches in every available retail site in the city.
Thousands of Chicagoans turned out on Saturday to voice their disappointment and frustration over the passage of Proposition 8 in California. Luckily, they brought their cameras to share the event with thousands more.
The owners of Italian Fiesta Pizzeria, one of Barack Obama's favorite restaurants, are being flown out to Washington for the Presidential Inauguration Expo, an event that will preview the food to be served come inauguration time.
You might have guessed this Obama connection was coming: Natasha Brown of Broadview owns the Dodge Neon that used to belong to Obama. Brown is quoted in the story as saying, "I can't believe the president of the United States would be driving around in a Dodge Neon," she says. "It's a little girl car." Yeah, well maybe George Constanza could tell her a thing or two about owning a celebrity's car.
Take that $1000 and invest it one stock. Each day, make one trade. Twitter the results. (A little more background.)
7,000 tickets for the Bank of America "Do-It-Yourself Messiah" will be available this Monday, November 17. Pick them up at the Civic Opera House box office, call Ticketmaster, or order them online. They are free, but they're just about as tough to get as those Inauguration tickets.
Nate Silver, founder of FiveThirtyEight.com (and U of C alum - go Maroons!), has reportedly signed a two-book deal with Penguin Group USA. One book will cover "the art of prediction", while the second will "be a Freakonomics-style guide to the mechanics of electoral politics."
When* are we Going to see an end to sites letting us know about Upcoming events? I'm just about Eventful. (*When.com is the latest, a rebranding of AOL's Zvents. Whoopee.)
Bump J was arrested downstate on an outstanding warrant when stopped for a traffic violation. Here's a song of his that was produced by Kanye; you may recognize it from a McDonald's commercial. Oops.
From "50 Things You Might Not Know About The President Elect": he collects Spider-Man and Conan the Barbarian comics. I think his motto leans more towards "With great power comes great responsibility." than "By Crom...free my hands and I'll varnish this floor with your brains."
Watch your pockets. A creepy guy in a mask might just stick something in them.
It may not be worth $300 million, but I'm sure the U of C is happy to hold onto its number 1 ranking.
Because I'm going to need it when the CTA raises fares by 25 cents starting in 2009. An unrelated upside to this news is that the gas surcharge for taxi rides ends today, as oil prices have declined; however, cab drivers are lobbying for a 16% raise in their base fare.
The weather is getting colder, the economy is getting weaker, and relief seems to be nowhere in sight...so why not cozy up to a meatball in this week's Drive-Thru feature?
Or, as Timothy O' Sullivan might have put it to Abner Mikva (were O' Sullivan a hotel concierge and, well, alive), "We don't help nobody that nobody sent."
Meanwhile, NewCity's Best of Chicago issue is out.
The Reader's 2008 best restaurants list is out, along with some notable runners-up. (You might also want to check out places the chefs eat.)
It looks like CTA is going to vote to raise fares as much as 50 cents today.
Chicago child therapist Mike Ruggles will be starring in "Super-Manny," a spinoff of the ABC show "SuperNanny," debuting Friday night.
Over in Transmission, we check out the latest from legendary recording artist Mavis Staples, recorded right here in her hometown, at the Hideout.
The list of potential Obama cabinet appointees grows a little longer every day. Tammy Duckworth for Secretary of Veterans Affairs? Bill Richardson for Secretary of State? Google's CEO for CTO? (Nope.) Will MCcain get a seat? Ah, maybe he should just crowdsource it.
Small consolation, we're sure, but Cubs manager Lou Pinella has been named NL Manager of the Year. Before some of you start wondering how (given the team's stupendous collapse in the playoffs), the awards are voted on before the post-season starts.
The Alliance for the Great Lakes has released a report that suggests the only way to halt the invasion of Asian carp (and the destruction of the Great Lakes ecosystem) is to create ecological isolation for the Great Lakes and the Mississippi basin.
"Chicago Geek Girls is a network of groups devoted to supporting the work & play of women who identify as geeks."
In an unusual turn of events, a student group is sponsoring an updated Chief Illiniwek dance at the U of I. One of the reasons, apparently, is that it inspired at least one student "to be a complete man."
The blog Hyde Park Progress explores the transportation options available to the area from a U of C (ex)undergrad perspective.
Chicagoland gamers, welcome to the Dice Doho.
Most Likely You Go Your Way and I'll Go Mine is the second novel from local author Ben Tanzer. Read our review of this pop-culture-infused story of flailing relationships over at the Book Club page.
Business Week just named Mt. Prospect the best community in the nation for raising children. Des Plaines and Palatine were runners-up. Rankings were created from towns with a population over 50,000 and a median household income between $40,000-$100,000.
The original Clybourn location of the Goose Island Beer Company will stay open, thanks to a renegotiated lease. "I could not be happier," said founder John Hall in a press release. "I felt terrible, like I was losing a part of my family. We would not have been able to reach an agreement with our landlord without the support of our loyal customers. I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support with e-mails, letters, and petitions."
Tonight at 7pm, FoGB Anne Elizabeth Moore will be reading new work about "life among the cute and the Cambodian," based on her recent travels to the country, at The Parlor, a reading series sponsored by Bad At Sports Podcast and hosted by The Green Lantern, 1511 N. Milwaukee Ave, 2nd Floor.
The Diplomat Hotel, an SRO in Lakeview known best for its neon sign visible from the CTA, may be shut down if its owner continues to block fire inspectors from checking on code compliance.
Photographer Edward S. Curtis' 1914 silent film In the Land of the Headhunters was the first to exclusively star Native North Americans. It was recently restored and will be shown at the Field Museum on Sunday and Monday mornings. Stick around afterwards for a discussion with historians and descendants of the Kwakwaka'wakw nation, who are featured in the film. More details in Slowdown.
A local woman's story of domestic violence calls into question some of the legal issues surrounding abusers, victims, and their children.
Chicago politicos aren't the only Chicagoans getting national coverage these days. Exhibit A: theater director David Cromer's profile in the NY Times.
Time Magazine gives us the 411 on Barack Obama's right-hand woman, Valerie Jarrett, aka "big sister."
That's right, Pershing West Magnet School offers elementary school students archery classes [right side of page].
To celebrate the life of Studs Terkel, Steppenwolf will present a free staged reading of Terkel's book "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" this Monday, featuring Steppenwolf company members, director Joyce Piven, the Tribune's Rick Kogan, and that guy from "Friends."
Rahmfacts.com: awesome like Chuck Norris Facts, only they happen to be true. For example: "Rahm Emanuel rides his bike as if he's being chased by The Headless Horseman." [via]
Sure, there will be a few important Cabinet positions to fill in the coming months, but what we really want to know is who will be cooking up the cuisine at the White House? The Obamas may be bringing a bit of local flavor with them to D.C., though it sounds like they are still partial to Spiaggia for special occasions.
Being there for history being made: priceless.
If Chicago ever becomes a high-speed rail stop, we've already got the station for it. Or at least the design for the station.
Washington Wizard Gilbert Arenas has some new ink: "'Change We Believe In' tattooed onto the fingers of his left hand in cursive writing," as well as 44 (Obama will be the 44th POTUS) on the outside of his pinky.
For the presidential trivia buffs, the Secret Service names for President-elect Obama and the next First Family are: Renegade (Barack), Renaissance (Michelle), Radiance (Malia), and Rosebud (Sasha - aw). Want your own? Get it here.
The online version of The Oprah Store is all new, just in time for the holiday season. The Short Rouched Sleeve Button Front Cashmere Cardigan is rather sweet.
Sam Zell is sticking firm to his $1 billion asking price for the Cubs, even in the souring economy. But apparently Mark Cuban is out despite his $1.3 billion offer.
Meet Chicagoan Nate Silver, the U Chicago grad and statistics whiz behind fivethirtyeight.com, the election data analysis site that has "helped make sense of some of the things that didn't seem sensible."
The latest issue of In These Times features a column on the election from Bill Ayers, the ex-Weatherman and current UIC professor oft brought up during the campaign. [via]
The Muppet Movie, The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and more ... all on the big screen.
A mass dog marriage was held in Oak Park this weekend with the hopes of setting a world record.
... until there are really good, non-election-related images. So here's my last hurrah: Barack Obama's flickr account, which includes some fantastic behind-the-scenes photos from election night.
Evanston police report that a 90-year-old woman has been living in a house with three deceased siblings, one of whom probably died in the early '80s.
A fun Friday diversion, courtesy of Chicagoist: Illinois politicos done "South Park" style.
Our own Steve at the Movies, aka Capone on Ain't It Cool News, was invited to England a couple months ago on a press junket for the new James Bond film, Quantum of Solace. He's been doling out the details from that trip, and finally posted about his test drives of the current Bond car, the Aston Martin DBS.
A pool report of President-elect Obama's ride to his first intelligence briefing highlights what many of us already know about downtown traffic.
I bet you're wondering what happens to all the furniture, supplies, and appliances used by Obama campaign offices now that the election is over. Wonder no more: they're being donated. Two-hundred offices across the country have already donated or have pledged to to schools in their communities via iLoveSchools.com.
That headline (or was it just a banner?) on the cover of this week's Reader has stirred up considerable controversy. (Thanks, Andrew!)
I firmly believe that personal stories are the best way to express how legislation affects people. And why it needs to change.
On Wednesday, November 12 Noodles & Co. (2813 N. Broadway) will donate 25% of all sales toward the Weisman Park renovation project. Donations accrue on sales between 4 PM and 10 PM, and you must have this flyer to have your sale count.
Cubs fans dreaming of having fan-friendly sports owner Mark Cuban running things on Clark and Addison got their bubble burst by MLB commissioner Bud Selig, who reportedly has nixed a sale to Cuban.
The old main post office maybe finally be getting a new life as an office and condo development, according to the Sun-Times. The plan also calls for reducing the middle section that rests over the Eisenhower Expressway. To be fair, the building hasn't been totally useless over the years, appearing in two very popular movies recently.
Tribune critics list the Chicago-connected bands/performers they'd like to see at the Barack Obama inauguration balls, ranging from the Staple Singers to Obama favorite, Wilco.
Organizers of the Lollapalooza music festival have signed on with the city to keep the event in Grant Park through 2018, with exceptions in case the city hosts the 2016 Olympics.
Drive-Thru staffer Yu Kizawa stumbles upon every chef's fantasy--a deeply discounted Kitchen Aid mixer--and the results are life-transforming in this week's feature.
The University of Chicago's Graduate School of Business just announced a $300 million gift, along with a new name. If you want the information straight from the source, here's the press release.
GB contributor Mike Doyle has compiled YouTube videos of the spontaneous countdown in Grant Park as the news was announced that Obama had won.
Don't forget to watch "30 Rock" tonight; Oprah will be making a guest appearance. And if you're awake for the 11pm rebroadcast of the "Oprah" show, former Chicagoan Tina Fey will be making an appearance.
Change.gov is the official government website for President-elect Obama's transition team. Upcoming Events features a pretty graphic for the inauguration -- 75 days and counting! And yes, there is a Jobs page page, which features an "Expression of Interest" form for "non-career positions."
Want to see a concert tonight? How about a movie on the 19th? Learn how to get free tickets to either one after the jump.
Arte y Vida has teamed up with us to offer 20 free tickets to see Marcin Wasilewski Trio at The Morse Theatre tonight at 6pm. RSVP to amor@arteyvidachicago.com.
HollywoodChicago has 80 passes for a Nov. 19 screening of Four Christmases, starring Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon.
The AIA Chicago awards for excellence in interior architecture are up. Wish I worked in some of these places.
See, things are already changing after Barack Obama's election victory: Mayor Daley wants to give parking ticket scofflaws a break on unpaid tickets issued before 2007. The amnesty period would run from Dec. 1 to Feb. 14.
Today in Transmission, we check in with pop rockers Hanson as they swung through Chicago's House of Blues earlier this week. Turns out they're not just about "MMMBop" anymore, but are as philanthropic as the next celebrity family.
The OTHER big story on Election Night? Apparently it's Michelle Obama's dress. The Sun-Times and others from around the world weigh in on her duds.
The Gapers Block Book Club is ready for another year of reading as we release our 2009 book club reading list. We have another great mix of classics, new titles, award winners, bestsellers and lesser-known works — all written by local authors. So check it out, and don't forget to join us this Monday, November 10, for our last meeting of 2008 as the Book Club gets together to talk about Sin in the Second City by Karen Abbott. Details in Slowdown.
The major electronics store Tweeter is filing for bankruptcy and closing eight Chicago stores. Good thing the amphitheater already changed its name.
If you didn't make it down to Grant Park on Tuesday and would like to get a view other than that of the major networks, there are some interesting alternative views of the event. The real star of the alternative coverage is WBEZ, which asked its flickr pool users to fill specific assignments. The station posted their work in audio/video slideshows and other collections that draw from the pool. Other interesting coverage includes that of Chicago Magazine, Chicagoist, and, of course, the GB flickr pool.
Calling all Jim Henson fans: The Gene Siskel Film Center is running a month-long program of films created by the Muppet Man! Yes, you get all the Muppet films, but you also get a couple programs of seldom-seen weird experimental films, like "Time Piece". The program starts this weekend, and you can find a full schedule at the Film Center Website.
If you're still looking for physical copies of today's Tribune and Sun-Times newspapers, there will be more printed today, but their methods of distribution will vary. Sun-Times copies will be available in stores in Hyde Park and at their HQ, and the Trib will be sold around town at single-copy outlets and convenience stores. You can also order it online.
If you'd like to see different ways Obama splashed across frontpages in newspapers today, check out Daily Kos' roundup, or go country-by-country at the Newseum.
Chicago-born author Michael Crichton died today. Author of books such as Jurassic Park and The Andromeda Strain, his official site seems to be down, but here's his IMDB and Wikipedia page for easy browsing. He was 66 years old.
All day long at Columbia College, there's a marathon reading of Jack Kerouac's On the Road, happening at 1104 S. Wabash. Pop in during your lunch hour or after work; the motion embedded in Kerouac's words fits beautifully with this bright fall day and the change in the air. Apple pie served at 4pm.
Could last night's historic election results affect Chicago's 2016 Olympic bid? Tokyo thinks so.
Ok, I was wrong. There's nothing else going on in the world but Obamania, and we have Peruvian Shamans to thank for it. [Thanks, Kara!]
It's hard for me to imagine anything else going on in the world right now than Obamania, but we can all be happy that the white powder at the Berywn police station did not harm Patrick Swayze.
The Windy Citizen decided to ask Chicagoans not whether or how they voted, but why. The resulting video project is enlightening.
Barack Obama will be the next president of the United States. (Like we had to tell you.) Listen to his acceptance speech here.
In addition to our ongoing election liveblogging, we've got reporter Sheila Burt on the scene in Grant Park, updating live throughout the evening.
OK, I know we're going a little overboard with the Obama linkage, but this is just too cool not to post.
An excellent Obama/Terkel sticker design -- someone print these up!
Those of you who miss Nau should check out new Wicker Park store Connect. It's run by a former Nau marketing manager, and carries the relaunched brand's lines.
Many national chains are offering special free items if you vote (most, if not all, won't require you to show your "I Voted" sticker or slip as proof, either). Get in on some free coffee, donuts, chicken strips, or ice cream at participating businesses.
Here's a very practical service from the City: type in an address here and find out if it's on a street that requires a parking permit.
No, not for Grant Park tonight, for the Winter Classic at Wrigley Field, Jan. 1, 2009. A free drawing for a chance to purchase tickets will be offered online at the Chicago Blackhawks' site. Register there starting 11am Wednesday, Nov. 5th until 11pm Nov. 28th.
It's just a hunch, but I think this woman is voting for Obama.
Well, SOMEBODY'S making money in this lousy economy: The firm that installed and maintains the red light traffic cameras just scored a cool $32 million payday from the city.
After voting, post a pic of your ballot receipt on Flickr so all the world knows you've done your civic duty.
In an effort to save $1.7 million next year, the city is canceling its free trolly service on January 4.
We're proud to announce the launch of Mechanics our new section focusing on Chicago and Illinois politics. Headed by Revenge of the Second City columnist Ramsin Canon, Mechanics features contributors of every political stripe, all in one place. It's where you'll find our election coverage today, constantly updating throughout the day and into the night.
Popular Ch. 9 anchor Allison Payne suffered a series of mini-strokes earlier this year, and has decided to take an indefinite leave of absence. Send your regards here.
Hey, is anyone else tired of This. F*cking. Election?
A day before her grandson has a chance to make history, Madelyn Dunham, Barack Obama's grandmother, has died in Honolulu. Obama credits her with being one of the major inspirations in his life.
If you love pregnant seahorses, endearingly floppy manatees and cephalopods like I do, you'll be excited to learn that every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday during the month of November (except Wednesday, 11/26), the Shedd Aquarium will offer free general admission and discounts on inclusive packages.
Today's mid-70s temperature may set a record, and makes me think of "Indian Summer." Read more about that term in Ask the Librarian, and a very heated discussion in the Fuel archives.
Now that plans for the Chicago Spire have been put on hold (due to economic reasons), Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamen is wondering what we could with the hole that's been left behind. He's gotten lots of suggestions so far, most of them making reference to Mayor Daley and/or Todd Stroger.
...here are some pictures of cute, fluffy kittens. And some more (thanks, yellowcardigan)!
According to a New York Post columnist, when it comes to power-wielding big city mayors, Mayor Daley tops NYC's Bloomberg hands down. Just check out the tale of the tape.
Plans for the former Carson Pirie Scott & Co. building have hit a snag, as both clothing retailer Billabong and grocer Fox & Obel have decided not to open storefronts in the historical building at 1 S. State Street, which is currently undergoing renovations and is scheduled to reopen next fall.
"Zombie World," in the Fall issue of Keep Going. (No, it's not a late Halloween story.)
The Trib is assembling questions and answers about Obama's rally on Tuesday. If you have any questions, check out the current list. If you don't see the answer you're looking for, ask them, and they'll work on it.
If you're looking at your sample ballot for tomorrow's election and want to figure out whose going to get your vote for the lesser-known (but still incredibly important) races, here are some endorsements to get the ball rolling: the Sun-Times, the Tribune, the IVI-IPO, Vote for Judges, and the AFL-CIO. If you're looking for information on the decision about the Illinois Constitutional Convention, here you go. The polls open at 6am and close at 7pm.
If you were lucky to receive tickets to Tuesday's Obama rally in Grant Park and you hope to sell your prize, you're out of luck; according to the Democratic National Committee, tickets will be personalized with the requestor's name plus a guest, and will not be transferable.
After months of "Barack Obama's Chicago" in seemingly every media outlet, it's time for a change of pace. This time, Saul Bellow gets the treatment.
Prep work continues and tickets will be emailed tomorrow for the planned Obama rally in Grant Park on Tuesday, while city officials seem to be split as to what non-ticketholders should do -- initially encouraging turnout, then discouraging, and encouraging all over again. Meanwhile, everyone seems to have predictions about the event.
Christine Durbin, oldest daughter of Senator Dick Durbin and Loretta Durbin, has died from complications due to a congenital heart condition. She was 40 years old. A statement from Durbin's office notes that funeral arrangements are pending.
